Our mission is to provide a nurturing and challenging educational environment through the completion of a musical production/revue. We strive to provide a high-quality and diverse experience in all areas of the performing arts. In this light, it is our goal to foster an appreciation, understanding, and love of the performing arts with a clear intent to touch the heart, engage the mind, and transform lives by creating extraordinary theater experiences for the young people in our program.

APPRENTICE WORKSHOP

Directed by Corey Rubel

SESSION I – ANNIE JR. – July 2 – 21, 2018 – Based on the popular comic strip, Annie JR. features everyone’s favorite little redhead in her very first adventure. With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone’s hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. Annie is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of an orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan. Annie eventually foils Miss Hannigan’s evil machinations, finding a new home and family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy.

SESSION 2 – THE LION KING, JR. – July 23 – August 11, 2018 –

Disney’s The Lion King has captivated the imagination of audiences around the world and now, for the first time ever, you have the opportunity to produce this one-of-a-kind musical in your your school. The African savannah comes to life on your stage with Simba, Rafiki and an unforgettable cast of characters as they journey from Pride Rock to the jungle… and back again, in this inspiring, coming tale.

Performances for both sessions will be performed on the Villagers Main Stage.

TEEN INTENSIVE WORKSHOP

SESSION 1 Broadway Revue – July 2 – 20

Directed by Terri Seggio

SESSION 2 Broadway Revue – July 23 – August 10

Directed by Kiera Radvanski

In our Teen Performance Workshops cast members will expand their singing, acting and dancing skills, regardless of previous experience, as they work with our phenomenal instructors to create a showcase musical revue. The goal of the program is to provide every cast member with their moment in the spotlight – whatever that looks like to them.

Our instructors will share practical advice, such as how to maximize the short period of time you have at an audition, information regarding the many facets of theater, and for older cast members, who see musical theater as a possible profession . . . What is the college audition process and what is the business like.

The review will be performed on the Villagers Main Stage at the conclusion of each three-week session.

DIRECTOR BIOS

COREY RUBEL (Youth Program Director, Apprentice Workshop) is a graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in English and Theatre, as well as a Masters in Theatre Education from NYU. He is a Lower and Middle School Drama Teacher at Rye Country Day School, as well as directs many productions throughout the New York and New Jersey area. Corey is the Program Director of all Villagers Theatre Arts programs including Summer Theatre Arts, Miniature Musical Makes, Villagers Teen Ensemble and TeensVill. He has worked as a teaching artist at George Street Playhouse and Papermill Playhouse, was involved with the Broadway Artists Alliance, and served as a Papermill Rising Star Evaluator. Theatre is his passion and he looks for every reason to engage himself with shows, teaching the craft and becoming more educated himself.

TERRI SEGGIO (Director, Teen Performance Workshop Session 1) has been a teacher, director, and choreographer for over 30 years. She has taught middle school students for both the N.Y.C. Public School System and in Franklin Township.
Mrs. Seggio is presently teaching 6th grade Literacy and is the director of the Musical Theatre program at Sampson G. Smith School, where she started the S.G.S Players 13 years ago. Prior to Sampson she directed at Franklin Park School and Conerly Road School, and she directed and choreographed productions for the Staten Island Children’s Theatre Performing Arts Company in Staten Island. Mrs. Seggio is proud of the over 45 shows she has directed and choreographed in her career. She has been the director of the Villagers Teen Summer Arts for the past 6 years and has loved every minute of it! Mrs. Seggio believes “All children should experience a standing ovation in their life!” She strives to bring her passion for theatre to the children she is lucky enough to teach! She is the proud recipient of the 2018 Outstanding Women of Achievement in Entertainment for Somerset County, and last year was awarded Educator of the Year in the Arts.

KIERA RADVANSKI (Director, Teen Performance Workshop 2) is a graduate of the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University with a BM in Music Education and is currently a music education teacher in the Franklin Township school system. Kiera has been involved with the Villagers Theatre since she was 10, participating in the Villagers Summer Theatre Arts Camp. In recent years she has been seen on stage in Rent and Spring Awakening. She joined our staff for the teen camp several years ago and has been one of the directors for the past 3 years. She looks forward to sharing her passion of music and theatre with your teens again this summer!